The Maa, as they are popularly known, is the most famous tribe in East Africa and Africa at large. Maasais are proud semi-nomadic cattle rearing people with an attractive culture. They have a very special attachment to their cattle which are essential to their lifestyle even though they are under intense pressure to conform to the modern society. Apparently, it is widely assumed by the western visitors that Africa is uncivilized, and its people are mainly Maasai. This is not true.

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The Maasai tribe is popular and unique due to its preserved culture that dates back hundreds of years in spite of the education, civilization, and the western cultural influence. Their culture and arts are one of the best attractions to both Kenya and Tanzania. Tell me; what do you think when the Maasai tribe is mentioned if not herds of cattle,red ochre red shuka(sheet) and their dance of jumping!

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Historically speaking, most of East Africa national parks are as a result of Maasai heritage; Nairobi National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Samburu, Amboseli, and Tsavo National parks in Kenya and Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and Manyara National Parks in Tanzania all stand on what was once Maasai territory. It was due to these big chunks of virgin lands inhabited by wild animals that attracted the attention of the two governments to hive off and protect these natural habitats. This explains why it was easier to convert their land into reserves and parks because they are pastoral nomads and they verily co-exist with wild animals.

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When the British came to Kenya, they took over land belonging to the Maasai and this was also done by the government in order to create ranches for settlers. Kenya and Tanzania governments did this to create wildlife reserves and national parks.  The capital city of Kenya, Nairobi is a Maasai name(enkare) for a place of cold waters. It was at Nairobi where they used to water their cattle.

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The Maasais value and cherish their culture, and still do initiations from boyhood to manhood where Maasai morans are turned into warriors and given responsibilities as elders and protectors whereas the women build houses(manyattas) and milk cattle.  Manyattas are build in circular fashion and enclosed by a fence usually acacia thorns to scare away wild animals. Fencing is done by men.

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“Eunoto”, an initiation ceremony is done to ‘graduate’ boys from their moran lifestyle into a warrior where, a bull is slaughtered, meat eaten and blood taken and from this point, young man can marry and start a family.

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Maasai engage in many ceremonies including Enkipaata(pre-circumcision ceremony), Emuratta(circumcision), Enkiama(marriage), Eokoto e-kule(milk drinking ceremony), Enkang oo-nkiri(meat eating ceremony). Olngesherr(junior elder ceremony), Ilkipirat(leg fire marks), and Eudoto(Enkigerunoto oo-inkiyiaa(earlobe) among many others.

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Since time immemorial, Maasai depended on their large herds of cattle which supply them with food such as milk, blood, and meat. Blood is drunk on special occasion and it is usually given to circumcised people, mothers who have given birth, the sick, and also to drunken elders.

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Lastly, Maasai land is communal land although of late things are changing and individuals have started owning land.